BOOKING CONDITIONS:
Please read the following carefully as requesting services with South America Tourism Office will be taken as acceptance that you have read and understood these conditions. South America Tourism Office is a licensed travel agent and ATAS accredited. ATAS participants meet high standards of business discipline, training, compliance with Australian Consumer Law, and compliance with a code of conduct – ensuring your peace of mind when booking travel. The Australian Consumer Law protects consumers when they buy goods and services, including travel, under a range of ‘consumer guarantees’. If these guarantees are not met, you may be entitled to a refund, compensation or to have the service provided again. Visit consumerlaw. gov.au. Our prices are inclusive of the cost of research of our travel products, consultation with travel agents, communication costs in confirming travel services with overseas suppliers, providing documentation, brochure production and marketing.
VALIDITY AND COSTS:
Due to the changing nature of products supplied by airlines, hotels, cruises, all prices in this brochure are subject to change. Prices can change due to factors such as government regulations, fuel increases or currency changes and we reserve the right to change prices accordingly. The most accurate way to find out the current prices for any of our programs is by contacting our consultants who can provide you with an accurate and detailed quotation.
PREPARING YOUR TRIP:
At the South America Tourism Office, we pride ourselves as a specialist travel wholesaler. Using our expertise and first-hand experiences, we can tailor your perfect itinerary according to your needs and interests. We are on hand to provide details and answer any questions you may have in relation to your itinerary. These queries can be requested through your travel agent or directly with you. To acknowledge time and care required by our consultants in designing a personalise an itinerary for you, we have to limit ourselves to providing two free suggested itineraries. Further to this, we will require a $500 deposit in order to continue working on your file, which will later be used as a credit against your booking.
BOOKING PROCEDURE:
1. Once you have selected your tour/s, contact your travel agent or the office for a relevant quotation. Please note that any verbal quotations are estimates only and all arrangements will be subject to confirmation and availability. Once you wish to book for set dates, please complete and return a copy of the booking form and/or copies of your passports. (The booking form must be returned with a copy of the current passports as soon as possible when services are requested. South America Tourism Office will not accept responsibility for reissue fees, penalties or costs incurred for incorrect details associated with flights/services being held prior to the receipt of this information. Final documentation will not be released without a signed booking form on file.) *It will be the responsibility of the passenger to advise us of any changes in passports/ identification details that occur in between placing the booking and undertaking the services. Many services require currentinformation and there will be no compensation if services have been issued with the incomplete/incorrect information. 2. Once all services are confirmed you will be issued with a confirmed itinerary and invoice with the confirmed price and due dates for deposit and final payment. All quotes are subject to availability and prices are not guaranteed until written confirmation is given. A deposit of $500 per person is usually required to make a booking, but this may vary according to the booking conditions of specific cruises, packages, lodges where additional deposit may be necessary to secure these services and this will be advised on confirmation. The final payment date is usually 60 days prior to departure from Australia/New Zealand, but this may also vary according to supplier’s deadlines etc. If the booking is placed within 60 days of departure, full payment will be required within 7 days of confirmation or earlier. Failure to receive monies by the due date will mean automatic cancellation of your booking and loss of your deposit. Changes to a confirmed reservation will be charged at $45 per change. **Please note that all airfares and taxes are subject to change until ticketed. Air taxes are charged separately from air and land content and will be invoiced as tickets issued. Prices are subject to change until confirmation due to seasonal surcharges, increases by our suppliers, airlines, governments etc. Once invoiced, the confirmed price may be subject to change at any time until paid in full due to majorcurrency fluctuations, increases etc.
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3. Once final payment has been made, your reservation will aim to be processed for documentation approximately 3 –4 weeks prior to departure from Australia/New Zealand assuming all relevant information (flight and cruise details etc.) have been supplied. If you would like documents issued as priority (to be processed within 72 hours) a fee of $45 is payable.
ITINERARY VARIATIONS
It is possible that route or itinerary changes may become necessary due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control. We reserve the right to cancel or reschedule tour departures and itineraries where necessary. If necessary, we reserve the right to substitute accommodation of a similar standard. No refund will be available in the event of itinerary changes or hotel changes.
AIRLINE RESPONSIBILITY
Airlines shown in this brochure do not by virtue of their endorsement of this brochure represent themselves either as contracting with any purchaser of a holiday from South America Tourism Office or as having any other legal relationship with any such purchaser. Due to the changing nature of airfares, the cost of flights and air taxes will not be guaranteed until they have been ticketed. Prompt payment usually avoids any increases. SATO is not responsible for any actions made by the airlines in relation to schedules changes. Assistance will be provided, however any additional costs associated with this schedule change will be at the expense of the traveller. It is the traveller’s responsibility to ensure that once checked in at any airport, that they keep vigilant of any announcements made by the airlines in relation to schedules changes and gate number changes.
RESPONSIBILITY
HDR International, incorporated in Victoria, trading as South America Tourism Office, operators of the package tours outlined in this brochure, give notice that they act only in the capacity of booking agents for the tour member in all matters of transportation, tour operation, accommodation, and other services. HDR international, its directors, representatives, in their absence of their own negligence, or subsidiaries and/or associated agents shall not be held responsible, directly or indirectly, for property loss or damage and/or damages resulting from illness, personal injuries or death which may be sustained by reason of, or during any tour, whether due to the ownership, maintenance or operation of any aircraft, helicopter, vehicle, bicycle, boat, hotel, or any other conveyance used in carrying out these tours. These terms extend to any employees of South America Tourism Office. Payment of a deposit for services is an acknowledgement that you have read, understood and accept the terms of travel of the South America Tourism Office.
REFUND FOR UNUSED SERVICES
No refund is available for cancellations after travel has commenced. Any alterations made whilst you are away are made at your own expense. Services/ ground content included in the tour price but not used for any reason are not subject to any refund. Please note that employees of any overseas suppliers are not authorised by SATO to make any undertakings to our clients in respect to refunds.
INSURANCE
Travel Insurance is strongly recommended to protect you against loss of deposit or payment, cancellation fees, illness, injury or death, baggage or personal items loss, delays, strikes, war, terrorism or default by any suppliers or principals.
WARNING
As some South American cities are situated at an altitude of 2850 meters above sea level or higher, it is advisable for passengers to check with their doctors to ensure that they are fit to travel to high altitudes.
HEALTH AND REGULATIONS
You should carry a valid passport at all times. Passport, visa and vaccination requirements are not our responsibility, nor that of your agent, nor are we responsible for any expenses incurred due to your failure to comply with the above. You should familiarise yourself with health or visa requirements that may be applicable to the countries you intend to visit.
CANCELLATIONS
Cancellations can only be effective upon receipt of written advice. If cancellation takes place more than 60 days prior to the date of departure you forfeit your deposit plus any other fees which hotels, cruise operators or airlines may impose. Cancellations made 30 to 59 days prior to departure will incur a $500.00 fee per person on top of any other fees imposed by our providers. No refund will be given for cancellations made within 29 days of departure.
